Weekday City Hall Elopement and Dinner at Foxley Bistro

Dramatic editorial portrait of a bride and groom at Toronto City Hall during their intimate elopement

There is something we’ve noticed about City Hall elopements: no two ever look the same.

The chambers are the chambers— we'll be upfront that they're not exactly the most inspiring room we've ever photographed in, but also not the worst— but the portraits afterwards, out on the terrace and around Nathan Phillips Square, are a completely different story! Old City Hall at one end, the square at another, a small green space in the corner, and depending on the time of day, some beautifully dramatic light to work with.

For Ayah and Milan's elopement the afternoon sun was sitting strong and high which is not the softest light to work with, but instead of working around, it we leaned into it. The reflections bouncing off the surrounding buildings gave us something almost theatrical to play with, and the portraits that came out of it have a moodiness that we still love to this day. An added bonus: Milan's mom is an art director, and her (soft and respectful) suggestions as we were shooting made the whole portrait session feel genuinely collaborative. It freed us up to focus on what was in front of us rather than troubleshoot the next setup.

Before heading to dinner we made a quick stop at their apartment because they had a dog, and of course we needed photos with the dog. When do we not?! Some things are non-negotiable.

The reception was at Foxley Bistro on Ossington, where Ayah and Milan took over the backyard patio for an intimate dinner with their nearest and dearest. We hadn't originally been scheduled to stay for the reception, but a last-minute change pencilled us in, and we are so glad it did. The evening was warm and celebratory, and full of the kind of genuine joy that's hard to manufacture. The food was extraordinary, and in a detail we still think about was how Ayah's dad came over at one point to let us know he was about to start his speech, and when we immediately moved to put down our plates, he sat down and told us to finish eating first because he wasn't starting until we were done! In all the weddings and elopements we've photographed, that kind of thoughtfulness from a family is genuinely rare. The whole evening reflected not only Milan and Ayah’s warmth, but their family and friends too.

If you're thinking about a weekday elopement in Toronto, we'd love to be part of it!